ARS Seeks
Partner to Help Stop Potato Sprouting

Two treatments developed by the
Agricultural Research Service to control
sprouting in stored potatoes could be on the market if a business partner can
be found to sign a patent license or cooperative agreement to commercialize the
technology.

ARS, the U.S. Department of
Agricultures chief in-house scientific research agency, identified
the two chemicals as potential alternatives to the synthetic chemical CIPC, the
most widely used sprout inhibitor registered for U.S. post-harvest application
to potatoes. Sprouting control is required on more than half of the
$2.5-billion U.S. potato crop, but the use of CIPC is becoming increasingly
regulated.

Both of these patented control methods are based on readily available
compounds.

One is based on jasmonates, natural compounds responsible for the
characteristic aroma of jasmine flowers. Jasmonates are already used in the
fragrance industry and as flavorings in food. Only minute amounts of the
compound are needed to control sprouting, and the treatment also slightly
improves the color of potatoes processed into potato chips and French fries.

As natural compounds, jasmonates could be especially useful for the premium
organic potato market, which does not use CIPC, according to research chemist
Edward C. Lulai, with the
ARS Sugarbeet and
Potato Research Laboratory in Fargo, N.D. Lulai helped developed the two
treatments.

The other new control method involves the use of certain aromatic acids to
delay spouting.

Lulai says both control methods could be economically feasible, especially
for niche markets such as organically grown potatoes. But just as with CIPC
when it was introduced, exact application protocols need to be worked out and
routine food safety approval issues addressed.

More information about these and other ARS patented technology to control
sprouting and dry rot in stored potatoes is available on the ARS
Office of Technology Transfer web
site by searching under Available Technologies.